Dome Pondering

I can’t say that I’m shocked that we’ve gotten to a point where coaches are now leaving institutions in the middle of a season - a long-time honored commitment - for another school.  The most salient point is that he is leaving a situation that is was committed to him, with students who have were committed to his leadership, and the current status of the team, the University, and the fanbase on the brink of success never seen before.  All of it, full of constant reactions of “SMH” with a lot of eye rolls.  How did we get here?  It's not lost on me - I’m just a mere Northeasterner commenting on the culture of College Football…especially within the South. I’m aware I’ll never fully understand the emotion, but I’m just peeking in, and it’s not great. The departure has given college athletics yet another turn in what feels like an increasingly snowballing culture evolving into chaos. More so, operating in a space lacking ethics and foundational qualities surrounding t...

So in shocking fashion, the juggernaut that is Nike has now backed Colin Kaepernick and all that is, was, and has become, in this on-going dilemma. And of course, has now added a new layer to it all. Interestingly enough, the company fully supports Kap, and has centered the 30th Anniversary of it's "Just Do It" campaign around him, continuing a clear divide of idealism and ridiculousness across the country. And shall I say, even more absurd rhetoric on defining patriotism in the good ol' United States of America. First things, first. If you're new to this blog, I'll catch you up to speed on my stance - I've been with Kap. And no, I'm not "anti-American". But I'm pretty sure you will jump to conclusions and tell me that I am.

There is a part of me that didn't even want to EVER touch this topic again. I said what I said in the past on the highly controversial topic, and then followed up a year later, and vowed there was no point. After all, no matter how many times issues of clear social injustice is brought up, there will be those who will look to thwart it, especially by draping themselves in a false sense of "patriotism".  But, here we are. Another post on the this entire ordeal. I'm at a point where I simply laugh at callers on sports radio, political pundits on air, or even the casual individual who voices their opinion against the situation - thank you random guy at the gym, your commentary and viewpoints keep my grounded in America's pulse.  And now, the NFL, emboldened it all of it's arrogance, in it's lack of understanding, in it's negligence of player understanding or safety, and yes, it's fear of President Trump and it's supporters has manag...

Yes, I don't watch football. Well, not anymore.  I've been completey sober for two years, not counting that one hiccup in watching the Super Bowl in February.  So yeah, I'm not into football. I'm not particularly fond of the sport's connection to CTE issues, it's blatant obstruction or disregard for science expressing it's connection to football, nor its handling of various matters over the years. And that's even before Colin Kaepernick decided to shake the core of our nation's reality my simply dropping to a knee.  I actually don't even care for the sport, really. The NFL is rather gross in all that it is, and has been for a long time. And for those touting college football and it's culture - excuse me. I was born, raised, and currently live in the North East. I have friends and colleagues in the South and across the country who revel in those sagas that exist only for and around Saturdays in the Fall. But, not even college ...

I pretty much quit watching football this year. I know, that sounds absolutely crazy to most sports fans, especially Americans to whom football is more religion that just sport and fandom, but yeah, I just stopped. In fact, the most football I sat and really watched this entire season was the drive in overtime of the National Title game between Clemson and Alabama.  So, why did I give up football?  Well, for starters, I was never the biggest football fan. Ranking my favorite sports, it's easily as follows:  Baseball More Baseball Basketball Soccer Everything else... So yeah, quitting football wasn't all that hard. I'll root for the New York Jets from time to time (more reason to ditch the entire football thing from my life) but I've never been the guy too excited about football Sunday. Honestly, my fall Sundays were more so, really football Sundays in watching the MLS. But that's another post for another time.

So Tim Tebow is playing baseball. Even more accurate is this little nugget - Tim Tebow is a player inside the New York Metropolitans' organization. Yeeeeeeeah, I'm not sure I've wrapped my mind around that fact as of yet, either.  Despite his dorky look during his tryouts which begged "I'm a baseball player!!", what I will say is this, I admire Tim Tebow. I really, really do. Even on a day like today where he signs a professional baseball contract, many are lashing out in cynicism towards him and towards the Mets organization. And of course, there are those who find an avenue in which to mock Tebow for his faith. Apparently, having faith and spiritual convictions in today's America makes you an outcast, or subject for ridicule. Whatevs, another topic for another day. 

So when did expressing your first amendment right suddenly become un-American?  Look, many are going to flare up in anger on either side of the fence, much the way they already have, in reading this post - if you choose to do so. But the recent Colin Kaepernick situation has me flustered, confused, baffled, and quite frankly, a bit amused.   - Returning to my opening statement, when did taking a neutral position on sitting for the national anthem suddenly become an expression of hate for one's country? Again, I have yet to understand why many are lashing out against Kap for expressing the very right which makes us American in the first amendment? - I find the "insult to the military" argument to be utterly weak and ridiculous. Why are American's always so hell bent on rating, grading, and declaring the level of someone else's patriotism? We're always looking for an unmarked box to quickly scream, "NOT AMERICAN!". More on that in a bi...

So here we go again with the National Football League and it's careless antics. Another disciplinary problem for a league that continues to hold it's popularity and product in the highest form of arrogance possible. After all, let's get this straight - someone on the team that just won your league championship cheated, you penalized them, the U.S. District court reversed it due to "legal deficiencies" in your actions in doing so, the NFL already penalized the Patriots and head coach, Bill Belichik, who were found innocent in the original investigation, and now Brady is free. Justice won't occur for someone breaking the rules, and #DeflateGate was a HUGE waste of our time.  Got it? Okay, so most of us knew the last part was true, especially the way ESPN wanted us to believe the matter was as big as the Iran Deal. However, I'm of the belief, someone did break the rules, game equipment was altered, and the NFL needed to handle it correctly, even ...

So let me get this absolutely straight - the investigation conducted and the final report concluded that Patriots personnel, including Tom Brady, knew about #Deflategate (don't you just love hashtags) and the balls being altered?  One more time. You're telling me that Tom Brady - that Tom Brady, the Tom Brady - knew this? Four time Super Bowl winning Tom Brady? Future Hall of Famer, Tom Brady?  OK folks, gear up, because I'm sure this is a post many of you will disagree with me on, but isn't this a super, mega, huge, gigantic deal!?  The game's biggest star has been pretty much caught cheating, and knowingly cheating. Nonetheless, en route to a championship? Call me crazy, but that's a pretty big deal, and of course, should warrant much scrutiny and discipline from the NFL. Although, I won't hold my breath on the latter occurring swiftly.

I've always said that the NFL is indestructible because quite frankly, it is. It is the largest and most prominent entertainment company in our nation, and continues to expound upon it's already massive and ridiculous revenue stream. And that statement rings true even after the NFL went through the public ringer on various cases of domestic abuse and other forms of league-wide player discipline. So after today, when San Francisco 49ers linebacker, Chris Borland, a budding superstar in the league, decided to hang it up at the young age of twenty-four, I was thoroughly surprised. And then when he stated that super real statement, "...health is more important than a career in football", I knew things were about to get heavy really quickly on this topic.

#DeflateGate. Such an awesome name, and an even better hashtag. This has been an absolute disaster of a year for the NFL. Yet, considering their ratings, revenue, and continuing interest, it all says just about how much of a public relations hit the league can take and keep moving forward.  Looking to move past the debacle that was the Ray Rice issue and some of the unflattering referee calls/game rulings we've seen this season (shout out to Dez Bryant on what SHOULD HAVE been a catch!), the NFL now has another - ANOTHER! - Patriots cheating scandal on its lap. Even worse is the fact that the scandal may have, possibly, could have, kind of, or quite possible have influenced the holiest game in American culture - The Super Bowl. 

Sometimes you just have to wonder ponder what exactly goes through the minds of some high-ranking sports executives and coaches in professional sports organizations. It's quite easy for all of us on the outside to simply look in and do what we usually do - complain, criticize, ridicule, scout, and agonize - all from the comfort of our couch. Sometimes it's valid, but often we're just fans ranting.  Yet, lately, when it comes to the New York Jets, much of it is true. The decisions and circus-like stories, news, and on-goings that come out of Gang green's camp is utter ridiculous. Even for this fan, faith in this organization is at all-time low.  Let's forget about the near twenty million dollars in open cap space GM John Izdik has not used. Let's not even mention the wasted draft picks over the few years and the small percentage of them that are still on the roster, or don green and white on Sundays. Disregard our lack of skill players, especially a...

When I punched the keys last week on the National Football League's arrogance in handling the Ray Rice situation ( When You're King Like The NFL, You Rule and Are Pardoned ), little did I think their overall lack of discipline would ever get this bad. After all, like I stated in that post, the NFL is king, and quite frankly, one of the biggest corporations in the nation.  However, after the Ray Rice bubble burst, other bubbles began to surface and are now front and center. With the spotlight on the NFL now with multiple domestic abuse cases, including the hot topic of Adrian Peterson and his child abuse indictment, I don't remember the NFL ever taking such a public relations hit in my lifetime. Seriously, ever. For as long as I can remember, the NFL was considered the "model" league. Now, there is no reason for me to defend or to even support the ethics push against Adrian Peterson. Truthfully speaking, spanking is one thing, whipping and harming is...

Wait a minute. Just hold on a second. Am I, like every other person, supposed to believe that the NFL just discovered this video of Ray Rice knocking the hell outta assaulting his wife? I'm supposed walk along the same train of thought that the NFL just saw or was aware of this video along with everyone else today when it was leaked by TMZ? Really? Really?!   We hear it all the time, "The NFL is King", and you know what, the league thoroughly proved it today when this video was released and logical thinking set it. After all, the league suspended Rice for two games (a complete joke), then created a new initiative to govern players and domestic violence mandating a six game suspension, and now that this video was released, they are indefinitely suspending Rice, totally ignoring the new initiative. Again, come on!  I'm sorry, but if any other sport acted this way, with a lack of proper and thorough investigation, action, discipline, and ethical sustenance...

I can't say that the New York Jets signing Michael Vick was a total surprise. In fact, it was something I've projected during the season when the quarterback position looked like it would be in peril as Geno Smith was attempting behind the back passes during football games.  Even with Smith's rather, somewhat, encouraging play down the stretch of the season which left Jets fans believing that he could indeed become "that" guy - you know, the one we've been searching for since Joe Namath - you had to know that Vick was still out there. Especially, when you did the projected math that Mark Sanchez was on his way out.

Legacy and history describe the fallout from Super Bowl 48 (I'm so sick of roman numerals). Yes, the game was an absolute dud, and while the media and those that drum up debate, talk, and of course, the over reaching hyperbole (ESPN) to keep the focus on the "Big Game", you could not steer away from those two aspects once again - legacy and history. Of course, why be coy regarding the issue of legacy? It's quite obvious Peyton Manning had ridiculous societal standards set for him coming into this game. Peyton needs another ring to validate his career!   One Super Bowl victory really isn't enough to call Peyton Manning one of the greatest of all time! Following a rather disappointing game, the rhetoric began on whether Manning was an all-time quarterback, and everyone dissected and scrutinized how he would be remembered. Some even claimed his brother, Eli, was better than he was because of the Super Bowl victories scoreboard between them - 2 to 1.

Usually, I don't get into the affairs of other teams and the issues their fan bases face. For the most part, the teams whom I root for and emotionally throw myself into have enough conflicts, dilemmas, and controversy for me to deal with. All you have to do is take a look at the amount of vents and posts yours truly has in the archives of this very blog during those "Isiah" years for my New York Knicks.  Yet, as a New York Jets fan who continuously hopes each year is the year, or heck, even just a decent year, it bothers me to hear Giants fans lately on the state of their New York Football Giants team, more specifically, Eli Manning.

The Jets may not always make the right personnel or sound football decision, but you have to admit, they definitely know how to grab your attention. With the selection of West Virgnia's Geno Smith with the 39th pick in the second round, the Jets stole the show at the 2013 NFL Draft.  However, unlike project Tebow, which oddly is still in progress, the Geno Smith selection isn't as controversial, and in some ways, can be said is a quality pick. The Jets were high on Smith, considered even drafting him with either their ninth or thirteenth overall selections, and still managed to get the young quarterback in the fold with their second round selection. Bravo! Seriously, no sarcasm there. A non-dumb decision by your franchise can indeed feel good.

It's hard to take the New York Jets seriously. After the past few months of a lot of ineptitude (and we all know, it has been a lot), Gang Green found themselves in another jam regarding one of, if not, the greatest player in the history of their organization, Darrell Revis. Revis is by far my favorite Jet of all-time. The guy is just that good, and is a future Hall of Famer. Watching him shutdown wide receiver after wide receiver was always a joy. And most importantly, it was a relief knowing half the field was cut in half. However, the issue of keeping him versus trading him has gone on for months now. With the Jets looking to reload restock rebuild simply become a good team, this issue has continued on throughout the off-season. Personally, as a fan of the Jets and of Revis, this is how I break the situation down:

Recently, it was made public that team representatives were asking prospective NFL players during the combine questions about their sexual orientation. Some were asked if they were heterosexual, with one player stating that he was asked, "do you like girls?" As the NFL investigates the situations, the recent allegations have stirred up controversy and debate. Some say that teams should be allowed to do so in hopes of selecting the right player to mesh within their existing team locker room. Others claim that the question was that of psychology in which a question is tossed out to force the brain away from stock answers the responder has prepared. And finally, of course, many wonder why it would matter, since such a question is illegal within the realms of a job interview.